70 Weeks of Prophecy
The Bible vs Premillennialism
Part 3
by Elder Brian Moore
In the past two segments of this study, I have attempted to define pre-millenialism as well as portray the view from which advocates of this doctrine interpret scripture. In part 3 of this series I would like to examine the phrase “end times or last days.” I have often stated, that the bible does perfectly well in defending itself against false doctrine. When we are confronted with false doctrine or something that sounds strange our best line of defense is to test that doctrine against the written word of God.
Throughout Christendom, there are basically three positions regarding the timing of the “last days or end times.” Some believe that the last times started around 1947 and the formation of political Israel after World War II. While some believe that the last days have yet to arrive and are off in the near future. A third position argues that the last days started during the ministry of Christ. It is this position that sound orderly Primitive Baptist have held dear throughout the ages. The premillinialist on the other hand argue that the last days began with the formation of political Israel in 1947. According to them, it was this restoration of the Jews to Palestine that ushered in the “last days.” However, the bible tells us something else. In the book of Hebrews in chapter one and in verses 1 and 2 we read, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” It is a very important element in this truth finding mission to point out that the “us” within the text is referring to those that were alive when the text was written. Which means that those very people were living in the “last days.” Therefore, to argue that the last days could not have been during the ministry of Christ is to deny the plain teaching of the bible. Which is exactly what premillinialism does.
In addition to Hebrews 1:1,2 the writings of the Apostle Peter also support the time and location of the last days. In first Peter 1:20 the apostle writes “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” The “who” referred to in this verse is Jesus Christ, see verse 19, therefore we have another example of the bible defending itself against the errors of premillinialism. This particular verse plainly states that the last days in question were coinciding with the first coming of the Lord. Which brings about the question, if the “last days” is not referring to the end of time and the second coming of the Lord, what is it referencing? In the scriptures quoted above and throughout the bible, the phrase last days, end times, last times is in many reference to the fall of the Jewish political state and the cessation of the Jewish temple in 70 A.D. The last times were literally the last days of the Jewish political state in which Christ came in judgment on a disobedient and rebellious nation. The account of which is discussed in the 9th chapter of the book of Daniel and in the 24th chapter of the book of Matthew.
